Dental wax spatula with heat dissipating handle and telescoping fuel supply



- April 1, 1947. H. M. YEAGl-:R ET AL 2,418,214

DENTAL WAX SPATULA WITH HEAT DISSIPATING HANDLE AND TELESCOPING FUEL SUPPLY Filed May' 15, 194e Patented pr. l, 1947 DENTAL WAX SPATUIA WITH HEAT DISSI- PATING HANDLE PiNlDTELESCOPING' FUEL SUPPLY Henry M. `ileager and Selwyn OtisMcCoy, Baltimore, Md.

Application May 13, 1946, Serial No; .669,343

Claims.

This invention relates generally to wax spatulas employed by dentists and dental technicians and is `directed more particularly to that type of spatulas in which heat is applied by a controlled flame directly to the spatula so as to eliminate the necessity for re-heating the spatula from time to time. A

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved handle `for spatulas of the type indicatedwadapted to rapidly dissipate heat so as to maketheuse of the instrument comfortable.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved spatula with this structure permitting the application of the heating flame to various portions of the spatula proper, or beyond the spatula if desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the type indicated in which a heat dissipating handle is so constructed as to permit easy control of the llame With respect to the spatula, with the hand holding the spatula so that only one hand of the operator is required.

Further objects will more particularly appear in the course of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combinations of parts, hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

One sheet of drawings accompanies this specication as part thereof, in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout.

In the drawing:

Figure 1`is a side elevation of the improved spatula;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross section through the spatula end of the device;

Figure 3 is a transverse cross section, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross section through a modied form of the device.

In accordance with the present invention the handle of the improved spatula is constructed from a plurality of wires l, by which term wires as used throughout this specification and in the claims, is intended to be included elongated strips of metal or other suitable material of circular, flat or any other desired cross section. These wires I are attached by their ends to opposite ends of a fuel conducting tube 3 which is preferably positioned centrally of the handle and substantially on the axis of a generally cylindrical structure formed by the associated wires I. One end of the spatula proper l2' is secured integrally to the adjacent end of the fuel tube 3, as illustrated in Figure 2, or optionally, as illustrated in Figure fl, a supplementary tube I3 may be secured to the fuel tube 3 and the adjacent ends of the wires l, the supplementary tube I3 being preferably provided with a conical orifice and the spatula I2 provided with a conical end compernentary in shape and size to the conical bore-of the tube lll, so that the spatula I2' can be selectively removed and replaced as desired.

rFie wires I constituting the handle of the spatula are arranged in circumferentially spaced andl substantially parallel relationship, and conform generally to a cylindrical shape, except that .at their ends they are contracted to permit the attachment of the ends proper to the fuel tube '3. At longitudinally spaced intervals spacer rings 2 are provided, which are soldered, braised, or otherwise' secured to all of the wires, and serve to maintain the wires in their proper longitudinal alignment and add rigidity to the handle.

At the spatula end of the fuel tube 3 a second fuel tube I is telescopically positioned in the fuel tube 3 so as to be slidable therein, and to this nozzle tube l is secured a control rod 8 which extends backwardly and parallel with the fuel tube 3, being provided at its rear end with a cross head 9, the opposite edges of which are grooved as at lil to slidingly engage two adjacent wires I-I and be slidable longitudinally thereon. The slide head 9 is conveniently provided with a projecting lug Il which may be readily engaged by a ringer of the hand holding the spatula, and by means of which the nozzle tube 'I can bev adjusted so as to direct a flame Vburning at its outer end to various parts of the spatula proper I2, or beyond, as desired.

If desired, a segmental spacer ring 2' may be positioned midway of the stroke of the slide head il, such segmental spacer ring 2 being secured only to the wires other than the two engaged by the slide head 9. Other complete spacer rings operate as stops for the slide head 9, thus limiting the stroke of the nozzle tube 1. It will be `apparent that by slightly bowing a part of the two wires l-I upon which the slide head 9 operates, the slide head can be removed and the nozzle 2 completely removed from the fuel tube to permit cleaning its bore or replacement, as desired.

By reason of the construction of the handle as indicated, it will be apparent that the handle has the combined rigidity of a plurality of relatively small wires both longitudinally and transversely, and by reason of the spaced relationship 0f. these wires heat from the spatula l2 is rap- 3 idly dissipated so that the handle does not unduly heat regardless of the period of use.

The end of the fuel tube 3 opposite the spatula is conveniently provided with an annular ridge 4 to more securely hold a exible gas tube 5.

Various. modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, but within the scope of the present invention as claimed.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. Dental spatula comprising a fuel tube, a plurality of wires having their ends secured to said tube adf'acent its ends, spacer elements associating said wires to hold same in a substantially cylindrical relationship with said tube as an axis, a, spatula associated with said tube and wires at one end, a second tube telescopically associated with the fuel tube at the spatula end and slide means connected with the second tube having a guide head slidable between two adjacent wires.

2. Device of claim 1 in which the spacer elements are rings spaced lengthwise of the Wires of which spacer elements two constitute stops for` the slide guide head to limit the'stroke of the second tube.

3. Device of claim 1 in which the spacer elements are rings of varying diameters spaced lengthwise of the wires, with the spacer elements of smaller diameters positioned adjacent the ends to contract the ends of the wire toward the fuel tube and in which the wires are spaced circumferentially and each rigidly associated with each spacer element.

4. Device of claim 1 in which the spacer elements are rings of varying diameters spaced lengthwise of the wires, with the spacer elements of smaller diameters positioned adjacent the ends to contract the ends of the wire toward the fuel tube and in which the wires are spaced circumferentially and each rigidly associated with each spacer element, with a segmental spacer element positioned intermediate two ring spacer elements, the said ring elements constituting stops for the slide guide head and the ends of said segmental spacer secured to the two adjacent wires on which the guide head slides.

5. Dental spatula handle, comprising a plurality of Wires having their ends rigidly associated, a plurality oi spacer rings of varying diameters, spaced longitudinally and positioned transversely of said wires whereby said wires are held in spaced relationship to constitute an elongated tubular framework having substantial rigidity with respect to both its major and minor axes.

HENRY M. YEAGER.

SELWYN OTIS MCCOY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the lle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Stevens Dec.` 5, 1911 

